Position
The Albany City Council is seeking applications to fill the Ward 2b city councilor vacancy. The Albany City Charter requires that a position left vacant midterm be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the city council, including the mayor. The new councilor will replace Councilor Carolyn McLeod, who resigned on August 6, 2026. The newly vacated Ward 2b position term is 2 years and expires December 31, 2028. For those interested in a 4-year term, candidate election filings for the November 2026 city council Ward 2a position are being accepted.
Qualifications
Citizens in Ward 2 who are interested in filling the vacant seat on the city council have until 2:00 pm, Tuesday, September 1, 2026, to submit their application. Applicants must be a current resident of Ward 2, must be at least 18 years old, and must have lived within the Albany city limits for at least one year and in Ward 2 for at least 90 days. Ward 2 is generally located in the southwest portion of the city. Potential candidates can confirm their ward by searching for their residence address at albanyoregon.gov/findmyward.
Apply by 2 pm on Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Applicants for the vacant seat need to indicate why they are interested in serving on the Albany City Council and what experience, interests, and perspective they would bring to the position. Paper applications or resumes will not be accepted.
Please notify the
Interviews
The Council plans to conduct interviews with applicants at a public meeting on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, starting at 5 pm, but may be subject to change. Following interviews, the Council may appoint a candidate to the 2b position to serve from appointment to December 31, 2028.
Expectations
The Council meets in the evenings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 6 p.m., though the schedule is usually adjusted to accommodate the year-end holidays. The Council also holds work sessions on the Mondays preceding Council meetings at 4 p.m.
The Council meets several times per year as part of the Albany Budget Review Committee and attends additional special sessions and joint meetings as needed. City Councilors are also members of the Hospital Facility Authority and act as the Albany Revitalization Agency. The City’s public meetings calendar is available at albanyoregon.gov/calendar.
Councilors may be appointed to serve as the Council’s representative on the City’s Audit Committee, Community Development Commission, other ad hoc committees as needed, or as the Council’s representative to an outside agency. Currently, the Council has representatives to 11 different agencies. A complete list and more information about each one can be found at albanyoregon.gov/council/outside-agency-reps.
Stipend
Councilors receive a monthly base stipend of $130, a monthly internet stipend of $50, and can be reimbursed for expenses related to Council business. Councilors are provided with City-issued equipment needed to communicate with constituents and staff, review meeting materials online, and attend meetings.
More information
Applicants are encouraged to review the additional materials available on the City website and at https://albanyoregon.gov/council.
Questions can be directed to Erik Glover, Albany City Recorder at
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The City Council is the legislative branch of our local government. Here's the basics on how Council governs:
How is City Council elected?
Every two years, Albany voters elect at least one councilor from their ward and a mayor to the City Council, Albany’s legislative branch of government.
What is a ward?
The city of Albany is split into three areas of similar population called wards. You can use the search box in the map below to find your ward.
What does the City Council do?
- Conducts public hearings
- Sets laws (ordinances) and policies (resolutions)
- Adopts a balanced budget
- Levies taxes, sets fees, and approves franchise agreements
- Appoints the City Manager to carry out Council directives
- (Known as the Council-Manager form of government)
- Appoints the Municipal Court Judge
- Appoints members to citizen advisory groups
There are 3 types of meetings...
| Meeting | Day/Time | Purpose | Open to the public? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work Sessions | Mondays 4pm |
Discussion and deliberation | Yes |
| Regular Session | Wednesdays 6pm |
Action and decision-making | Yes |
| Executive Session | as needed | Discussion only; no action may be taken in executive session. | No, ORS 192.660 protects discussion about privledged matters such as personnel, labor or property negotiations, and pending litigation. |
When are meetings?
The City Charter requires that the Council hold at least two regular meetings per month. You can find a complete calendar of public meetings on our website at cityofalbany.net/calendar.
Upcoming meetings
City Council Work Session
Monday, August 24, 2026, 4:00pm
City Hall, Council Chambers
City Council Meeting
Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 6:00pm
City Hall, Council Chambers
City Council Meeting
Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 6:00pm
City Hall, Council Chambers
City Council Meeting
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 6:00pm
City Hall, Council Chambers
Four members of the Council must be present at a meeting to take any final action. This is known as a quorum.
The Mayor presides over Council meetings. The Mayor can only vote in case of a tie.
How can you make your voice heard?
During Public Comment:
Most meetings include an agenda item called Public Comment. You may sign up to speak online ahead of time or at the meeting in-person.
The mayor then calls on those signed up to give brief remarks up to three minutes. The Council will listen. Councilors may choose to address public comments during Business from the Council.
Remarks may also be submitted in writing to the City Clerk for distribution to the council. For more information, click here.
During public hearings:
Public hearings are held for certain issues before the council such as land use, property sale and other matters. Some public hearings have specific rules of testimony, which are read at the beginning of the hearing.
Contact your councilors or the mayor:
You can find email and phone contacts for your councilors and the mayor at cityofalbany.net/council.
Councilors may choose to bring your concerns to the attention of the entire council during the meeting. Councilors may also attend outreach events held throughout the year.
Serve on a citizen advisory group or task force:
Over 100 positions are available on citizen advisory groups that recommend action to the council on topics including art, transportation access and safety, land use policy, parks, and much more.
Vacancies are filled year-round, with an annual recruitment during November and December for January appointment. More details are available at council.cityofalbany.net/groups.
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Public Comment
Public Comment
Public Comment is a time for Albany residents to speak and for councilors to listen. The council won’t discuss topics or make decisions during this agenda item, but will take comments or requests under advisement. Public Comment is not required by Oregon law and may not be scheduled on every agenda.
- Speakers are limited to three minutes and must follow the council’s rules and observe the same standards of decorum. Speakers unable to do so will be asked to step down and take a seat in the audience for the rest of the meeting.
- If you are speaking in person, use the sign-up sheet on the table just inside Council Chambers. When you are called on to speak, sit at the table before you start speaking. Use the microphone to state your name clearly and whether you live and/or work in Albany.
- If you are submitting written comments or registering to speak remotely, use the Public Comment button on the Meeting Materials page before noon on the day of the meeting. Please note that any materials submitted will be part of the public record.
- If you are participating remotely, please see additional rules in our Code of Conduct.
- Screen sharing is not allowed during public comment.
Public Hearings
Public Hearings
If you want to provide testimony during public hearings, you may:
- Email written comments to the staff contact, listed in the agenda or public notice, including your name and subject of the public hearing, before noon on the day of the meeting.
- Testify virtually during the public hearing by emailing the staff contact, listed in the agenda or public notice, before noon on the day of the meeting, with your name, phone number, and if you are speaking for, against, or neutral on the project/subject. The mayor will call upon those who have registered to speak.
- Appear in person at the meeting and register to speak using the signup sheet on the table.
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The following protocols were developed at an Albany City Council training session held on January 16, 2018. They are intended to set expectations for members of the Albany council and provide a model to guide the conduct and working relationships of council members. While some protocols relate specifically to council meetings, others are meant to apply broadly to the full scope of council members’ official interactions. The list is not intended to be exhaustive, and may be augmented or amended by future action of the council.
Respect
Council members agree to use respectful speech and positive body language when interacting with each other, staff, and the public, and will follow meeting procedures/protocols as established by the council.
Civility
Council members agree to demonstrate civility in their professional interactions, both within and outside of the City organization. Comments during meetings will remain thoughtful and measured, avoiding exaggerated, provocative, or personal remarks.
Compromise
Open-mindedness and active listening will be practiced by council members during deliberations in an effort to pursue compromise whenever possible.
Tolerance
Council members will endeavor to respectfully ‘agree to disagree’ in the event compromise is not possible.
Brevity
Council members will ensure their comments during meetings are succinct and relevant to the topic at hand.
Public unity
Out of respect for the institution and the process through which policy is made, council members will refrain from publicly denigrating council decisions once they are made.
Mayor’s role
Council members recognize that the mayor’s position requires balancing the important roles of facilitating meetings and contributing policy perspectives.
Liaison role
Council members serving as City liaisons to external boards, commissions, committees, and organizations will be responsible for sharing important news and pertinent developments with the council at regular meetings.
Communications with staff
Council members will keep the city manager informed of communications they may have with staff, including copying the city manager on any emails to staff.
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- J.C. Powell (1865)
- E.F. Russell (1866-1867)
- Jacob Norcross (1868)
- A.W. Stanard (1869-1870)
- N.H. Cranor (1871)
- A.W. Sweeney (1872)
- Collins Van Cleve (1873)
- Martin V. Brown (1874)
- David Froman (1875)
- N.B. Humphrey (1876)
- Allen Parker (1877)
- Jason Wheeler (1878)
- Thomas Monteith (1878)
- D.G. Clark (1880)
- David Froman (1881)
- Ira C. Dickey (1882)
- Walter M. Ketchum (1883)
- John Lindsey Hill (1884)
- Walter M. Ketchum (1885)
- J.K. Weatherford (1886-1887)
- J.L. Cowan (1888-1893)
- L. Flinn (1894-1895)
- C.G. Burkhart (1896-1899)
- W.H. David (1900-1905)
- J.P. Wallace (1906-1911)
- P.D. Gilbert (1912-1913)
- L.M. Curl (1914-1920)
- P.A. Young (1921-1924)
- J.H. Robnett (1925-1926)
- Mark Weatherford (1927-1928)
- V.L. Calavan (1929-1932)
- W.L. Jackson (1933-1936)
- Charles Ashton (1937-1939)
- A.G. Senders (1939-1942)
- G.C. Knodell (1943-1946)
- Ralph Banton (1947-1948)
- Jess Savage (1949-1950)
- Lyle M. Bain (1951-1952)
- Charles K. McCormack (1953-1956)
- William L. Fitzpatrick (1957-1962)
- Larry D. Roth (1963-1964)
- Russell W. Tripp (1965-1970)
- Donald R. Catt (1971-1972)
- Platt Davis (1973-1974)
- David C. Hayes (1975-1976)
- Leonard Roche (1977-1978)
- Richard Olsen (1979-1980)
- Donald Brudvig (1981-1984)
- Tom Holman (1985-1988)
- Keith J. Rohrbough (1989-1992)
- Eugene Belhumeur (1993-1994)
- Charles A. McLaran (1995-2006)
- Doug Killin (2007)
- Dan Bedore (2008)
- Sharon Konopa (2009-2020)
- Alex Johnson II (2021-present)
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